Lens Recomendation for Nikon D40 = Soccer Mom

[RHoldenSr]

I am strictly Canon but a friend is asking for recommendations on a lens for photographing the Soccer team.

I did some quick searches and was reading on the Nikon 55-200mm VR but it says it has a plastic mount! I don't think I want to recommend something like this.

Can you please offer some reasonable suggestions on a lens be it Canon or Nikon.

I do believe Canon has a 70-300mm with IS that is low cost?

[KenJulio]

Nikon has a 70-300 VR, used as low as 350, retail is around 600 if i recall.

The lens I would recommend if she can find one is the 80-200 f2.8 AF-S, the AF-D will not autofocus on the d40.

She will need an AF-S lens for autofocus to work.

[brewercm]

The Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR has gotten really good reviews for just around $500 or so. I'm not sure but I believe it has a metal mount but I wouldn't swear by that.


OOPS, a little slower then Ken. The 80-200 2.8 AF-S is a great choice also for the D40. I just sold one myself about two weeks ago.

[RHoldenSr]

I keep running into this:

NOTE: G-type Nikkor lenses are fully compatible with the F5, F100, N80, N65, N60, N50, N4004-series, PRONEA 6i, PRONEA S, D100 and D-series (or any newer model, except D40/D40X & D60) cameras

[DigMe]

As long as the lens is designated as AF-S it will work on a D40. I would have no problem recommending the 55-200mm VR to a soccer mom. It's a good bang-for-buck lens and to my knowledge there has not been a big rash of mount breakage. It's unlikely to happen.

The camera itself has quite a bit of plastic on it so why should she be troubled by as much in the lens?

I used this lens last year to take pictures of my students running races on track day and the results were great.

brad

[tc95]

Robin...if she is going to spend the $$$ on the 55-200...I would push her to the 55-300 VR lens...for I think 100 more...give her just a little more distance....my thoughts would be the 70-300VR or Sigma's HSM 70-200 for a faster lens...but since outside the 55-300 would do the trick....

[RHoldenSr]

OK i am confused! They say the G series lenses do not work withh the D40 yet they are selling this one with a G lens?

Amazon

Amazon

[brewercm]

I believe the G series have the af motor, the D models are the ones that won't work on those cameras.

[KenJulio]

These are the CURRENT model which will work with the D40 since the body does not have an autofocus motor built in.

SWM=silent wave motor aka AF-S

Camera Lenses | All NIKKOR Lenses for Digital SLR Cameras| Nikon

[KenJulio]

If you look at the title of the Amazon link you provided for the lens, it is listed as a AF-S lens, so it will autofocus on the D40.

Cheap route - AF-S 55-200 - sub $300 if I'm not mistaken
Middle of the road - AF-S 70-300 VR - sub $600
High end - 80-200 AF-S or 70-200 VR I - $800+

[ChrisTX]

The 70-300G is garbage and has no autofocus motor in the lens.

[tc95]

Ken you forgot the 55-300 AF-S VR - $400.00

[RHoldenSr]

Thanks foe akl the help
I sent her my recomendations

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

[ggeen]

Originally Posted by RHoldenSr

I keep running into this:

NOTE: G-type Nikkor lenses are fully compatible with the F5, F100, N80, N65, N60, N50, N4004-series, PRONEA 6i, PRONEA S, D100 and D-series (or any newer model, except D40/D40X & D60) cameras

The lenses are "compatible" they just will not auto-focus. She will need to look for a lens with a built in focusing motor. Look for AF-S. The Nikkor 70-300 AF-S VR lens will work wonderfully on the D40 body.

The G designation means the lens does not have an aperture ring, if I remember correctly.

If you are ever in doubt as to what lenses work, check out nikonusa.com.

[Mosephus]

Also recommend the 55-200 for someone who just wants a good zoom. You can find a non VR's for $100